Class I Railroads have offered their 2004 “Fall Peak” service plans via a letter sent to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Roger Nober, the STB announced.
Nober on June 9 sent a letter to the presidents of each Class I railroad asking them to inform the Board of their plans to meet this fall’s expected increase in demand for rail transportation.
“As STB Chairman, I pay close attention to the service the freight railroads provide to their customers,” Nober said in a statement. “In the past year, we have seen an unprecedented increase in demand for moving freight on the nation’s rail system, and the railroads are working hard to keep up with this demand. I asked the railroads to inform the Board of their fall peak plans because I am concerned about the increasing service demands being placed on them. I am making these responses public today because it is important for all rail customers to know what they can expect from the railroads during the upcoming fall peak season.
“The railroads’ responses show that they are keenly aware of the increased demands being placed on them, that they are working to identify potential service problems, and are bringing on as many resources as possible to meet any increase in demand,” Nober added. “While I hope these steps are enough to ensure that customers receive the best rail service possible during the peak season, I will continue to direct the Board to monitor the situation closely and will work with both the railroads and their customers to address any issues brought to my attention.”
